Selection of networks for communicating with unmanned aerial vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9881022-B2
Application number	US-201414282378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2014
Priority date	May 20, 2014
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A device receives a request for a flight path, for a UAV, from a first location to a second location, and calculates the flight path based on the request for the flight path. The device determines network requirements for the flight path based on the request, and determines scores for multiple networks with coverage areas covering a portion of the flight path. The device selects a particular network, from the multiple networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the multiple networks. The device causes a connection with the UAV and the particular network to be established, and generates flight path instructions for the flight path. The device provides, via the connection with the particular network, the flight path instructions to the UAV to permit the UAV to travel from the first location to the second location via the flight path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a device, a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location;
determining, by the device, aviation information,
the aviation information indicating whether the unmanned aerial vehicle can complete the flight path without stopping;

determining, by the device, a waypoint based on the aviation information indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle cannot complete the flight path without stopping,
the waypoint being a location along the flight path for recharging or refueling;

calculating, by the device, the flight path based on the request for the flight path and based on the aviation information;
determining, by the device, network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path;
determining, by the device, scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path,
the scores for the plurality of networks being based on information associated with the plurality of networks including at least one of:
availability information,
security information,
cost information, or
bandwidth information;

selecting, by the device, a first particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks;
causing, by the device, a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network to be established;
generating, by the device, flight path instructions for the flight path,
the flight path instructions including information associated with the waypoint, and
the flight path instructions instructing the unmanned aerial vehicle to:
maintain the connection with the first particular network until the unmanned aerial vehicle reaches a particular location, and
connect to a second particular network when the unmanned aerial vehicle reaches the particular location;

providing, by the device and via the connection with the first particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle causing the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location toward the second geographical location via the flight path based on the flight path instructions;
receiving, by the device, network connectivity information,
the network connectivity information including information associated with a strength of a signal between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network or the second particular network;

selecting, by the device, a third particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information; and
causing, by the device, a connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the third particular network to be established.

2. The method of claim 1 , where determining the network requirements for the flight path comprises at least one of:
determining the network requirements for the flight path based on the first geographical location and the second geographical location;
determining the network requirements for the flight path based on component information associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle;
determining the network requirements for the flight path based on costs associated with the plurality of networks;
determining the network requirements for the flight path based on security associated with the plurality of networks;
determining the network requirements for the flight path based on bandwidths associated with the plurality of networks;
determining the network requirements for the flight path based on availability associated with the plurality of networks; or
determining the network requirements, for the flight path, that maximize connectivity with the plurality of networks.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
assigning weights to the information associated with the plurality of networks; and
where determining the scores for the plurality of networks comprises:
determining the scores for the plurality of networks based on the assigned weights.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a ranking of the plurality of networks based on the scores; and
where selecting the first particular network comprises:
selecting the first particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the ranking of the plurality of networks.

5. The method of claim 1 , where receiving the network connectivity information comprises:
receiving, from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the network connectivity information during traversal of the flight path by the unmanned aerial vehicle; and
where the method further comprises:
determining whether to select another particular network, from the plurality of networks, based on the network connectivity information.

6. The method of claim 1 , where selecting the third particular network comprises:
selecting the third particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that the signal will be lost.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining the connection with the first particular network based on the network connectivity information indicating that communication between the first particular network and the unmanned aerial vehicle will continue.

8. A device, comprising:
one or more processors to:
receive a request for a flight path, for an unmanned aerial vehicle, from a first geographical location to a second geographical location;
determine aviation information,
the aviation information indicating whether the unmanned aerial vehicle can complete the flight path without stopping;

determine a waypoint based on the aviation information indicating that the unmanned aerial vehicle cannot complete the flight path without stopping,
the waypoint being a location along the flight path for recharging or refueling;

calculate the flight path based on the request for the flight path and based on the aviation information;
determine network requirements for the flight path based on the request for the flight path;
determine scores for a plurality of networks with coverage areas covering at least a portion of the flight path,
the scores for the plurality of networks being based on information associated with the plurality of networks including at least one of:
availability information,
security information,
cost information, or
bandwidth information;

select a first particular network, of the plurality of networks, based on the network requirements for the flight path and based on the scores for the plurality of networks;
cause a connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network to be established;
generate flight path instructions for the flight path,
the flight path instructions including information associated with the waypoint, and
the flight path instructions instructing the unmanned aerial vehicle to:
maintain the connection with the first particular network until the unmanned aerial vehicle reaches a particular location; and
connect to a second particular network when the unmanned aerial vehicle reaches the particular location;

provide, via the connection with the first particular network, the flight path instructions to the unmanned aerial vehicle causing the unmanned aerial vehicle to travel from the first geographical location toward the second geographical location via the flight path based on the flight path instructions;
receive network connectivity information,
the network connectivity information including information associated with a strength of a signal between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the first particular network or the second particular network;

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Ubhi Gurpreet
• Srivastava Ashok N
• Pasko Douglas M
• Batla Hani
• Kantor Igor

Classifications

• B64U2201/00

  UAVs characterised by their flight controls · CPC title

• B64U2101/60

  for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons · CPC title

• G08G5/0056

  Physics · mapped topic

• G08G5/0091

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F17/30241 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic